(21 Dec 2024)
“After that, I looked, and there before me was another beast, one that looked like a leopard. And on its back it had four wings like those of a bird. This beast had four heads, and it was given authority to rule.” [Daniel 7:6, NIV 1984]
According to Signpost interpretation theory, the Third Signpost begins with the one-horned goat of Daniel 8 charging at the Persian ram (who conquered most of the Middle East in the Second Signpost), and it ends with the rule of the four-headed leopard of Daniel 7. The four heads are Turkey first (since it is also the goat of Daniel 8), Syria, Egypt, and Albania.
Back in 2012 it looked like the nations representing the heads of the leopard were coming together to form the future four-fold Sunni confederacy. And Turkey, being led by a Sunni Islamist government, could only ally with other Sunni Islamist governments.
So when Egypt elected a Sunni Islamist leader (i.e., Morsi) in 2012 as I wrote about in this post, Turkey immediately became buddies with Egypt. And Syria with its Shia leadership (i.e. Assad) looked like it was on the brink of falling, as I wrote about in this post.
And because it looked like the Third Signpost confederacy was already forming, it seemed the Second Signpost had to come very soon, at that time.
But God had other ideas as it is all in His timing. Morsi was removed from power (see this post), being replaced by the old secular military government, and Assad clung to power with the help of the Russian air force.
But now, twelve years later, it looks like finally things are moving. So unlike the years of civil war which failed to remove Assad, Assad fell this time in only two weeks. Notice Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the Sunni militia with al-Golani as leader, toppled Assad in only two weeks.
Because of this, we will likely see Syria and Turkey become close allies, i.e. the first head of the leopard becomes close to the second head of the leopard.
When Egypt joins will be anyone’s guess. If it doesn’t happen until after the Second Signpost, then the great Shia advancement on the Middle East might cause the Sunni Islamist elements in Egypt and Albania to take over their respective countries to join Turkey, but this is just my speculation. The Bible is silent on how and when the four nations come together, only that they will.
Conclusion
I believe that at this time, the new Sunni government of Syria will have the backing of more Syrians than the Shia government under Assad did. (Sunnis are 80% of the population, Shias are 14%.) If there is no great change in who rules, the Turkish-backed HTS will turn Syria into a Sunni Islamist ruled country, closely allied with Turkey.
The Third Signpost Sunni confederacy looks to finally be forming after a false start over ten years ago.
The Second Signpost cannot be far away.
Be ready. Keep watch.
Categories: In The News, Signpost #3: Four Nations, The Signpost Perspective
THE FOUR SIGNPOSTS 
Do you have any thoughts on the recent victories of Israel? How Israel has been instrumental in reshaping the Middle East in part? It’s astounding really, but sadly at great cost.
so it’s time for turkey, USA, Israel to attack iran. Will the leader of Turkey have to die first…
Barbara,
That will be the topic of another post. And I’ll answer with a preface here.
Remember, the American Church’s popular prophecy teaching centers only on Israel, and is completely oblivious to the Four Signposts. This is partly because tradition is so strong now as it was in Jesus’ day 2000 years ago. Almost all teaching today is based on guesses made in the centuries before the end times. And as Daniel 12:4 says, the book is only unsealed in the end times.
So let’s put Israel in true prophetic perspective. Yes, Israel is the center. But the Bible also speaks of all the gentile nations surrounding it. Again, remember popular teaching is only “Israel, Israel, Israel.” So when you say “Israel has been instrumental in reshaping the Middle East” I would disagree. Israel has succeeded against its local neighbors – Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria – but as you say, at great cost. So we could say Israel has reshaped the immediate area around Israel. But Iran and the Second Signpost, followed by Turkey and the Third Signpost, will reshape the Middle East. The Middle East stretches from Istanbul in the west to Azerbaijan in the north to Iran in the east.
I do believe that for the Second Signpost to proceed, the Psalm 83 war will be waged. This will be a war between Israel and ALL the militias surrounding it. The wars Israel is fighting first with Hamas and then Hezbollah are precursors to Psalm 83. And Psalm 83 says Israel will win a great victory, but narrowly, and only with God’s direct intervention. For info on my take on Psalm 83, check out this earlier post and this one and this one. After that war is won by Israel, and Iran is vanquished by Turkey in the Third Signpost, the Third Temple construction will begin – years before the Tribulation.
Hope this longer explanation helps.
Michael,
This is what we hear from the US government and from the American church. The USA and Israel may very well attack Iran first, but if the Signposts are true, we know how that will end – the US and Israel will be defeated by Iran (and likely Russia and China), and Iran will be free to run out per Daniel 8:4 – no beast could stop the ram or rescue from its power.
According to the Signposts, only Turkey and Turkey’s leader will end the Iranian regime.
Erdogans replacement
Hopeful,
Do you mean al-Golani replacing Erdogan as Turkey’s leader who is the best candidate for the first horn of the goat? I don’t see that happening.